Excavating machine



@cit.

R. R. DOWNiE EXCAVATING MACHINE Fil ed June 27, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l v lI/IIIIIIIII/rll/Ydf INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY @ciko 7 p 11924. 151 1,1 14

R. R. DOWNIE EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed June 27. 1921 s Sheets-sheaf P wli ATTORN EY R. R. DOWNEE EXCAVATING MACHINE I Fi;|.ed- June 27, 192i 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOR N EY WITNESSES W l atented Oct; 7, 1924. I UNITED s'I ATEs 36F 3035M REX DOWNIE; F BEAVER FALLS; v

DRILLER COMPANY, or BEAVER FALLS," 1 PENNSYLVANIA SYLVANIA, A FYICOFRPORATION for EXCAVATING- a Application filed June 21192 assign Na; 4:so, 119.

Toall whom it may concern: .tends to lean'towardione Sid Q01? the other.

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. DowNm, 'If, however; such'leaning towardonef side a citizen of the United States, residing at ',is--permitted;, the' op osite wall-of the ditch; Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and Wil1 'be. u er'uthis is preventedon1 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented new .by the torsionalriw istance-o the boom-and- N and useful Improvements in Excavating stick and 'thefclose fit of -theistic}: pivot, 1 glachines, of which the following is aspecib'ea1 'ing If, in a .stickpf ac -giver; weight,

cation.

. the rsectional area disposed" asin two This invention has reference to excavat- "spaced {members of'channelsection it re ing machines and its object is to provide a l-isistsltorqnewstrain more rigidly than if the l machine of the swinging and elevatingboom iarew were; disposed asin a single" I-hea-m type in which there is provideda ditcher stick;

stick carried at one end by the boom and v 1ht' 1 geth pivot'hearing,the g at the other end slipporting a scoop with-jy-i11 the1ower end of the;st1ck depart-sfrom 15 a dumping bottom. and in fixed relation' to itsqtruje plane on-account'of a-given amount 19 1 "that end ofz'the-ditcher stick remotefromg of Wear "at snch bearing. Alsolthelonger; z'the boom; v the said bearm'g, the'less the pressurafa'n'd" 3 v 'The'hOOmandJditcher stick with the-scoop hence the less' the wearon a given areau/ fixed thereto-is controlled-by ahois tinglmeof- (bearing s'1'1rface,fvwhereforefthe Llon v 20 actingdirectly n, the ditches "stick; and '-.bar ng,red the wea to n n -"9 through 1t=onthe boorn', -w l1ile' the'scoop -is isnc'hl wear as ay o cur i .--le"qf a hi controlled" in its individualmovements by drama to digg ng a plumb ditch.

another'line servmg'a's aihan'ling'line-i' The Y'lhecsc'oop s ews-im ediatel beneath J-inventi'on possesses Ic'ei'tai'n advantagesiover t'he stichwith the effect thatgreaterstrength 25,0ther excavating, machines;offsimilanch'ar- Li's produced :in, the scoop itself, since the 80" H *acter inthat the hoisting-sheave about sho cks and ordinary strains of digging; wwh'i'chthe hoisting-line moves,,i s connectedl originating in the teetharetransmitted-more- 'by'bentba'rs'vvith the npper end of-the stick, directly to the stickwhereby "to preventinter-ference between the The invention contemplates the rigid at'-;

0 hoisting lineor'cable and the-pivotpin by 'tachmentof the scoop "to the --stick;*with l meansqfwhic'h the ditcher stick is connect.- the advantage that. the hauling" hail pivot ed'to the boom; The-benthar's' are-'of-such i's in fixed relationship to the-stick pivot, j"

I lengththat when the line or ..-direction of -v'vh ereby' there is'Ipresent no balanced eIepun of the hoisting icable, the length ofi mentof unstable action-to prevent immethe boom, and the lengthlof-tli'e stickaref-in" diate constant andcomplete control of the 00 4o pivot pin.

; their most; acute'f angular relationship the .polsition'of thejs'co'opi'. Thehauling line p'er hoistingsheave is locatedv t0 the rearof-the' form'sfits secondary function of closing the" stick pivot, therebyavoiding thepossibilit scoop ind-ireetl pandwthrohghfits primary of-the hoisting cable chafing on the stic function, .whic is that of governing the e I g 1' angularity of thestickand 95.

' The ditcher stickcomp-risestwogspaced; The scoopis of the dividing type, which,

parallel channels having the advantage of is of-advantage in discharging thosesticky I imparting greater rigidity to the stick itmaterials; which tend' toldump' only inlay self, and longerhearing for-the stick ivot, mass or block Upon release of. the customthan has previously been the ease. n the ary-latch, the'material frees itselffirstfroni F 3 operationof digging,the-weightoftheboom the walls only, the lo'osenin from the botand stick are allowed to ride? the scoo tom of the-scoop being'jde ayednntil= th 1 .in order to 'm'akeQt-he digging teeth yvit "load has dropped below'the scooppand-jis which the scoop'is supplied to enter the largely clear of the walls. 7' 1 This delay of a .50 ,teriaL. Because of this, the boon st-ick part-of theteskflofdiseharge; permits-them5 and; scoop are supported at two points, that entire avail blegforce m ce-concentrated .j is, the boom piv'ot' near the machine andthe. upon one part} and then 'upon another fart, scoop teeth. In starting a cut,. "the .c enter th t di -t a d abmpletep i 0f gravityof these parts is'fconsiderebly, tain discharge; N my is weighflbfg- "above their support and 7 so the structure- 'the load itself available for breakingthef 110.

fadhesionof the material to the wall, but

the weight of the bottom also, clingin to the underside of the load, tends to pu 1 itdown. I

In the scoop construction, the latch mechanism is sub ected to while the bottom'pivot' bolts are properly, to the greater strain; J The teeth with which the swinging bottom'of the scoop is provided, swing up.- wardly, when the scoop is dumped, and are thus, .as well'as by the controllability of the scoop, Wagon or other container into which "the load is dumped. This, and the fact that the bottom is free to swing, when dumping, through a full halfcircle, permit dumping into an extremely high car. In fact, this characteristic of the invention permits dumping into" any car it will clear when closed, because the bottom can be.' dragged in a horizontal position across either side without dama e.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding thatthe invention strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified. so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the subjected,

salient features of the invention as ex-' pressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a dredging machine embodying the invention.

Fig. .2 isan elevation of the forward end of the boom showing the assembly therewith of hoisting and) the dumping line.

Fig. 3 is arear elevation of the dredger a 'dredger stick, scoop and stick and the scoop carriedthereby, with struction the boom'extension irons in section On the line 33 of Fig. 2. g Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the structgure shown in Fig. 3, but. omitting the 00m. I

the main body portion A of an excavating machine embodying the invention. This excavatingmachine includes power elments which may be of suitable and known conand hence require no particular description.

Supported on the machine is a boom 2.

carr edadjacent to and projecting from the 'body of the machine by an upright mast" or column 3, which turns on a pair ofvertical alined'pivots, and by a closely adjacent 4, both pivots being common to fthe general form of excavating maa suitably light strain,

prevented .from damaging thethe sides of which is not confined to any hauling lines, together with Referring to the drawings, there is shown drawings, and hence nelirons, as is customary, riveted or bolted together back to back with the chanliels facing outwardly. At the outer end of the boom, are extension irons 5 carrying a pivot pin 6 at theirouter ends, and such. pivot pin traverses brackets 7, constituting bearings for the pin, with the bearings *carried by bolts 8 and also secured by rivets 9 to flanges 10 of beams 11 constituting parts of a ditcher stick 12 of structural forma-- tion, with the beams 11 rigidly connected together in spaced relation by bracing plates 13, whereby the ditcher stick is formed into a rigid structure capable" of withstanding the strains to which .it is. subjected,- and yet without adding'materia'lly to the weight of the stick.

At the end of the ditcher stick beams" 11 adjacent to the boom tor, but which need not be particularly 7 are straps 14 on that side of the ditchersti'ck remote fromshown dr described, since in itself itforms v no part of the invention. The angular connecting bar 16 which overh' ngs the pivotal connection of the boom and the features of this invention. These barsare permanently bent, as seen inside eleva-' tion Fig. 2, so that in operation the center of the stick pivot may intersect 'the! vice, without causing any interference of any of th parts. i

The pivot pin 6 is located of the ditcher stick, which end under cer-' tain conditions becomes the upper end, of

the ditcher stick. -At the other end of thehanger and.

posed between them a brace member 22 extending crosswise of the scoop and hanger and directly resisting collapse of the scoop and'distortion of the hangers. i

The scoop body, as shown in the drawings,- is of generall rectangular shape, a1- thou'ghnot confine .outlin as indicated in the drawing. The scoop is formed of sheet or plate metal of suitable gage, with fixed sides 23 and the fixed back 24, while the front of the Scoop is open, and the under side of the scoop is stick is one of.

being rigid and mostly or, it

to any such particular line of" force which supportsthe entire de '5 near one end ing a closure therefor.

member 25 oonstitutcomposed of a bottom The bottom 25 of the scoop is furnished with digging teeth 26 of appropriate shape fixedly secured to the bottom, made fast'to the sides of the scoop body above and in front of the bolts 28, protecting said bolts from the effects of the material into which the scoop enters.

The bottom pivot bolts 28 are located at the lower forward corners of the scoop body,

while at the rear of the scoop-body and of the bottom 25, midway of the sides of the scoop, is a latch tongue 29, secured to the bottom by bolts 30. Attached to the rear of the scoop body by a pivot pin 31 is the upper end of a latch finger 32 having a nose 33 at the lower end to snap over latch engaging member-29 on the bottom.

mally toward stick, and connected to stick.

In order to urge the latch finger 32 northe latch tongue 29, there is provided a sp-rlng 35, which may be a multileaf spring. The latch finger 32 has secured thereto an arm 36 rising above the scoop thereto one end of a rod h the ditcher stick and ate 38 on the ditcher one end of a'dumping line 39 lea-ding toward the body of the excavating machine, an additional spring 37 connecting with the rod 37 and brace 20. I

v When the bottom 25 of the scoop is in the closed and latched position, a pull on the line 39 will withdraw the latch finger 32, thereby releasing the bottom 25 and and having pivoted 37, proj ecting throu through I a guide p 28 and thus" permit the bottom to drop, which it will do by gravit because of the weight of the bottom and t e location of its pivotal axis near the digging end of the bottom, and also the weight of the load within the scoop. a p That end of the scoop toward the machine A is provided with a bail 40 connected by pins 41 to the sides of the scoop, and the bail is furnished with. a central link or clevis 42, to which there is connected one end of a hauling line 43, the other end being carried to the machine A, where suitable ap paratus is furnished to draw the line, together with the scoop, toward the machine. Supp'osethat the scoop is resting upon the ground, the ditcher stick is vertical and the weight of the boom is resting upon the pull upon the hoisting line18 lifts the entire device including the boom,- and the hauling .line being unrestrained, the ditcher stick swings outwardly to whatimay be called the position of equilibrium, where the stick then-projects beyond the boomin substantially a horizontal position. The hoisting line 18 is. then released sufiiciently to allow theteeth-26 of the scoop to touch the ground, and the hauling line 4.3 is drawn while siderake teeth 27 are causing it to rock about the axis of the bolts in whereupon the scoop is moved bodily toward the machine, taking up material in passing. If necessary, for the proper digging engagement of the teeth, the hoisting line 18 may be released and thus the scoop is borne down by the weight of the boom, or if the teeth engage too deeply, the hoisting line may be retracted to lift the entire device controlled by it.

When the scoop is loaded, and whether or not it has attained the end of its possible travel through the material, the hoisting line is drawn in, elevating the scoop, the hauling line 43. being in the meantime restrained. When the boom has reached the proper elevation, it is swung about the pivots of the mast 3 to a position over the ditch to be filled in, or over the wagon to be loaded. Suppose that the material is to be deposited in a wagon. The hauling line 43 is now let out or drawn in sufficiently to locate the scoop directly above the wagon. Now, a pull on the dump line 39 diseiigages the latch 32, and the bottom 25 swings downwardly about its pivotal axis 28, dischargingmaterial at'that exact spot, the scoop body itself meanwhile remaining stationary. In case it is desirable to discharge the load with extreme accuracy, as when placing the final scoop full of a wagon load,

the loaded scoop may be lowered into. the precise position which it is desired the discharged material shall occupy- The latch is then disengaged and the body of the scoop "lifted perpendicularly away from the load, as slowly and carefully as may be desirable, since the position of the scoop is at all times entirely within the control of the operator. 7

Again, if the load consists of a boulder,

which would damage or breakthrough a bottom closing operation. The hauling line is now released, allowing the scoop to drift outward and down a short distance, or until the ditcher stick is about in the "vertical position. At this "phase, the axis of "the scoop bottom is considerably in advance of the center .of gravity of the bottom. Now the hauling line is suddenly retracted and the momentum of the bottom carriesit u and about its axis until' the latch piece on the bottom strikes and automatically engages the spring latch 32 on the end of the scoop. The closing action of the bottom said means with the sheave at the few inches. 10

may be augmented, if necessary, by a coordinated manipulating of the hoisting line. This is caused to occur while the scoop is being drawn in, and at the precise instant when the bottom is swung up to within thirty degrees, more or less, of its closed .po sition, the hoisting line may be quickly released a little, thus dropping the scoop a The effect is to hasten the relative movement and increase the momentum with which the scoop bottom attains the closed position. Should the closing operation be unsuccessful from one cause or an-' other, it may be repeated, and the closing accomplished. L

"What is claimed is:

1. In an excavating machine, the combination with a swinging boom mounted for up and down movements, of a ditcher stick pivoted to the outer-end of the boom and.

extended above and below the same, means carrying -a"sheave and pivotally connected to that portion of said stick above the boom, a scoop fixed rigidly to the lower end of the said stick, a hoisting line passed about the sheave and controlling the boom and stick, and a hauling line connected to the scoop, outer end extending inwardly overthe boom and entirely free of the latter, and being ofsuch length that when the direction of pullbf the hoisting cable, the length of the boom and the length of the stick are in their most acute angular relationsip, the hoisting sheave is then located in rear of the stick pivot so that the hoisting cable will not chafe on the latter. 2. In an excavating machine, the combination with a swinging boom mounted for up and down movements, of a ditcher stick 1 plvoted atits inner side to the outer end of the boom and extending above and below the same, means pivoted to the outer side .of the ditcher'stick above the pivot between the stick and the boom, saidmeanscarrying a sheave and extending inwardly over the boom and entirely free of the latter, a hoisting line passed about the sheave and leading to the hoisting mechanism for controlling the ditcher stick and boom, a scoop 'rlgidly secured to the lower end of the ditcher stick, and a hauling line coning the sheave relationship, the hoisting nected to the scoop, the said'means carrybeing of such length that when the direction of cable, the length ofthe 00m and the length of the stick are in their'most acuteangular sheave is then lccatedin rear of the s t1ck\piv.ot, -so-that the hoisting cable will not chafeon the latter.

3. In an excavating machine,f.a boom, a carried by the boom, a to the ditcher .stick a scoop rigidly fixed V ditcher stick at the side bar pivoted to the,

to the outer end of the pull of the hoisting 'oppositethe pivotal connection of the. stick and the length of said stick are in their most acute angular relationship, the hoisting sheave is then located 1n rear of the stick of the latter and being of the length of the boom pivot pin, so that the hoisting cable will not chafeI on the latter.

nation with a boom, a ditcher stick pivoted boom at a point short of the end of the stic an angular connecting bar pivoted to th' end of the ditcher stick beyond the pivotal connection of the stick to the boom, and a sheave mounted on the end of the angular bar and adapted to receive the hoisting cable, said bar overhanging the boom and entirely free of the .latter and being of such length that when the direction of pull of the hoisting cable, the length of the boom and the length of the stick are in their most acute angular relationship,

the hoisting sheaveis then located 1n rear of the stick pivot pin, so that the 11 an excavating machine, the combihoisting cable will not 'chafe on the latter. I

5. In an excavating'machine, the combi:

pivoted to the outer end of the boom at a point short of the end of the stick, an angular connecting bar pivoted to the end of the stick beyond said pivotal connection, said connecting bar overhanging the pivotal connection of the boom to the stick withits outer end entirely free of the boom, and a sheave provided in the outer end of said connecting bar and adapted to receive the hoisting. line, the said connecting bar belng of such length that when .the direction of pull of the hoisting cable, the length of the boom, and the length 01: the stick are in their most acute angular relationship, the hoisting sheave is then located in rear of the stick plvot pin, so that the hoisting cable will not chafe on the latter.

6. In an excavating machine, the combinan's tion of a boom mdunted for up and down movements, a scoop-carrying member pivoted to the outer end of the boomat a point between the ends of said scoop-carrying member, a hoisting connected pivotally to the upper end of the scoop carrying member for controlling the up and down movements ofthe scoop ing member and boom, and in con unction with the weight of the boom, for causing outward movementsof the lo wer'end of the scoop-carrying member, a scoop attached to the lower'end of said scooprcarrying member, the attachment (if the scoop to the scoopcarrying member being rigid and fixed throughout the entire cycle of operation, the

-carryline engaging a pulley 0 95 nation with a tiltable boom, of a ditcher stick .bottom in closed position.

7 In an excavating machine, the combination with a boom having spaced portions at the outer end, said spaced portions carrying a transversely arranged pivot pin, of a ditcher stick of structural steel comprising two spaced channelbeams, a scoop rigidly secured to the lower end of the ditcher stick,

' means connected to the channel beams to -maintain them in spaced apart relation, and

spaced brackets secured to the inner flange of the channel beams said pivot pin traversing said brackets and connecting the spaced portions of the boom to the opposite sides of said brackets, whereby a lfiig pivot and bearing therefor is provided between the boom and the ditcher stick.

8. In an excavating machine, the combi nation with a boom having spaced irons at the outer end, said irons carrying a transverse pivot pin, of a ditcher stick of structural steel comprising two spaced channel beams with .the channels facing inwardly, means connected to the channel beamsfto maintain them in spaced apart relation,'a scoop rigidly secured to the lower end of the ditcher stick," and spaced brackets secured to the inner flange of the channel beams, said irons engaging the sides of said brackets and said pivot pin traversing said brackets, whereby a long pivot and bearing therefor is rovided between the boom and the ditc er stick.

I nation with a tiltable-boom, a

- .teeth at the bination with a tiltable boom, of a ditcher stick, means for pivoting the outer end of the boom to the ditcher stick at a point below the upper end of the stick, a'scoop having an open end facing the machine and to the lower end of the ri 'dlyi secured g1 of said open elid,

stick at a point in rear and a drop bottom pivoted t'o-the sides of the scoop at a point in advance :of the ri' 'd connection between said scoo and said stick, said bottom having eart -ent-ering pivotal end, latching the drop bottom at the rear en thereof, a' hoisting line connected. to the upper end of teeth at the pivotal end, latching means for the stick for controlling the stick and the boom, and "a hauling line connected to the scoop above the pivot of the bottom, the connection of said haulingline maintaining a fixed distance with relation to the pivotal connection between the ditcher stick and the boom.

11. In an excavating machine, the combination with a tiltable boom, of a ditcher stick,-means for pivoting the outer end of the boom at a point on the ditcher stick below the upper end thereof, said stick be ing composed of two spaced apart beams, a

scoop having an open end facing the machine and rigidly secured to the lower end of the stick at a point in rear of said open end, and a drop bottom pivoted to the sides of the scoop at a point in advance of the rigid connection between said scoop and said.

stick, said bottom having earth entering means for the drop bottom, a hoisting lin'ezconnected to the upper end of the stick for controlling the stick and the boom, and a hauling line pivotallyconnected' to the scoop abovethe pivot.

of the bottom. 7

12. In an excavating machine, a swinging boom mounted for up and down movementsa ditcher stick pivoted to the outer end of the boom and extended. above and below the same, end ot the ditcher stick and provided with a drop bottom, means for pivoting said bottom to the scoop in advance of-the rigid connection between the scoop and the stick, latching ,means for the drop bottom, a dumpin line for operating the latching means, the stick for controlling'the stick and the boom, and a hauling line-connected to the scoop.

13. Man excavating machine, the combination with a swinging'boom mounted for up and down movements, pivoted to the outer end oi the boom, a scoop rigidly secured to the lower end of the ditcher stick at a point in rear of the open end of the scoop, said open end facing inwardly toward the machine, a drop bottom pivoted to the sides of the in advance of the flgid connection between the scoop and ,the stick, said bottom having earth entering teeth at the pivotal end, a

. latch for the bottom, and'means for releasing the latch, the toothed end of said bottom.

and extending above the ttom when the latter is in dumped position.

14. In an excavating machine, the combination with a swinging boom mounted for u and down movements a ditcher .stick pivoted to the outer end of the boom, a scoop rigidly secured to the lower end-of the ditcher stick end of the scoop, said open end; ac-,

scoop at a point.

a scoop rigidly mounted at the lower .7

a hoisting line forthe upper end of I a ditcher stick at a point in rear of the 0 en Q a M 1,511,114

ing inwardly towardthe machine,- a drop the.t -oothed end of said bottom'swingin up- 10 bottom pivoted to the sides of the scoop at warcily with the teeth facing in that irecapoint in advance of the rigid connection tion and extending above the bottom when between the'scoop and the stick, said'bottom the latter is iii-Jumped position.

having earth entering-teeth at the pivotal- In testimony, that I claim'the foregoing w end', rake teeth fast tothe sides of the scoop as my own, I have heretoaflixed my sig- 15 and overhanging the pivotsof the bottom so nature. as-to' protect said pivots, a latch for the Y e bottom, and means for releasing the latch, ROBERT, REX DOWNIE. 

